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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Got new swim ladder steps from CD

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/16/2004 : 13:24:55

Hi All,

Yesterday I received the swim ladder steps that I ordered from Catalina Direct. When I ordered them I figured they were a bit over priced at about $60.00, and while I still tend to think that they're marked up tremendously, I was at least a little satisfied when I received them because they are very substantial, as far as ladder steps go.

A question, however, for those who have installed them. The package did not come with any directions. It did come with pop rivets though. I've never used pop rivets. Can anyone explain to me how to use them in installing these steps? The package also included a tube of 4200, and a drill bit.

Thanks,

Ben
Beneteau 361
Viking Kitty
Columbus, Ohio

Edited by - on

ClamBeach
Master Marine Consultant

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3072 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2004 : 20:44:44

You need an appropiately sized pop-rivet gun.

Drill hole where rivet goes. Insert rivet in gun.
Insert other end of rivet in hole. Squeeze handle on gun.
It expands the rivet on the inside of the hole, then
makes a 'pop' as the rivet shank shears off.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2004 : 20:58:05

Thanks Clam, looks like I have to find a friend with an appropriately sized pop-rivet gun.

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2004 : 21:46:19

Or buy one for yourself. Or two; one for home and one for the boat. And buy galvanized pop rivets because aluminum ones are rather weak and oxidize readily. And have a few of each size around "just in case". You can never have too many tools, anyway

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2004 : 21:54:58

I buy SS pop rivets.

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gnorgan
Admiral

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USA
563 Posts

Response Posted - 03/16/2004 : 22:05:41

...okay, Frank. I really meant stainless steel

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Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 07:23:07

Good idea about the SS pop rivets. Is there an easy way to tell whether or not the ones I got from CD are SS?

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 07:39:28

Aluminum is dull, SS is shiny(er). If you go buy a pack of either at the store (cheap) you can compare them and it will be obvious.

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Sabur
Deckhand

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8 Posts

Response Posted - 03/17/2004 : 22:45:20

I bought the swim ladder steps 3 or 4 years ago for my ladder. What I thought would be a fairly simple job (we will never learn!!) turned out to be a bit more complex. This was my first experience at riveting but having said that, here is what I learned and or surmised.

1) Assuming the kit you got hasn't changed since I got mine, the rivets are stainless steel. I'm guessing that most household riveting jobs probably use aluminum ones but for the steps on our swim ladders aluminum ones are probably not strong enough to handle the 200+ lbs that may be placed on them. Ergo, the ss rivets supplied by CD.

2) Drilling the holes in the ladder myself simply didn't work. Stainless steel is extremely difficult to drill through with a hand drill; especially if the surface is round. Also the drill I had, with the bit installed (the one supplied by CD), did not fit between the rungs to allow me to drill vertically. I finally ended up taking the ladder off the boat and took it to a machine shop to have the holes drilled ($$$

).

3) I then borrowed a rivet gun from a friend. Useless. It was designed for aluminum rivets, not stainless steel. I looked into renting a rivet gun that could handle ss rivets but no luck. I had to go to Sears and plop down more $$$

for a rivet gun that could handle stainless steel rivets. This finally worked but it took most of the strength I had to get the rivets to pop (I'm a tall lanky male who is not likely to be mistaken for "Arnohhld").

Footnote: I installed the small bottom step at a slight angle to make it easier to reach up with my leg and get that first foothold.

Edited by - on

Ben
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 08:02:17

Thanks Mike, it's good to hear about your experience. Sorry it was problematic for you. Hopefully I will be able to apply the lessons you learned to my endeavor.

Thanks again,

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RichardG
Admiral

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USA
990 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2004 : 10:26:47

I recently installed wood ladder steps and am very pleased. I made mine -- very simple woodworking project which increased the width of the steps from 1/2" to a little over 2". But I used stainless screw/locknuts for fasteners. Maybe not as clean as rivets, but with the screws countersunk and the locknuts mostly hidden underneath, the end result seems more than satisfactory and installation is basic.

Drilling the stainless was difficult, as stated. My ladder is an aftermarket model (I think made in New Zealand) and only the 4 brackets are permanently attached to the transom, making removal for drilling easy. A centerpunch was essential to get each hole started -- and used a few bits and lots of leaning with my whole body weight to get the 8 holes through. Drilling a pilothole, smaller than necessary, also helped a bit. I didn't use cutting oil, but spitting on the work area seemed to help keep the bits from getting trashed too quickly.

Good luck.

Edited by - RichardG on 03/18/2004 11:47:40

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